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Auld Tower


A fortified house belonging to the Cathcarts once stood on this site, which is now occupied by a 19th century monument to William Wallace.

The Auld Tower was a place of considerable strength with incredibly thick walls, and is believed to have been owned by the Cathcart faily until the last of that line died in 1547. It later passed to the Ritchie family, and in 1673 an Adam Ritchie sold it to the Burgh of Ayr.

A belfry was added to the building in 1731, which at that time comprised of two storeys. In 1830 an attempt was made to reface the old tower, however the foundations were discovered to be of such poor quality that the tower was pulled down.

The present tower, designed by Thomas Hamilton, was built on the site in 1832 to commemorate William Wallce.

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Alternative names for Auld Tower

Wallace Tower

Clans associated with Auld Tower

Cathcart

Surnames associated with Auld Tower

Cathcart

Where is Auld Tower?

Auld Tower is in the parish of Ayr and the county of Ayrshire.

Grid reference:NS 33852 21801

Lat / long:55.4617590,-4.6294068

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Auld Tower

OS map 326
Ayr & Troon (Girvan & Maybole)
OS Explorer map 326


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Directions to Auld Tower

Enter a starting point

Weather at Auld Tower

0°C
max 2°C / min -1°C
4km/h N
1036mb
93%
40%
08:22 16:39

Scattered clouds
Weather observed at Ayr at 21:41

References (books)

The Castles of South-West Scotland
Mike Slater
Malvern, 1993

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Auld Tower

Newton Castle (site of)

0.5km away

Ayr Castle (site of)

0.5km away

Castlehill, Ayr (site of)

2.1km away

Greenan Castle

3.6km away

Alloway Mote

3.7km away

Brigend Castle

4.1km away

Newark Castle

4.7km away

Auchincruive (site of)

5.2km away

Monkton Castle (site of)

5.6km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Auld Tower

Greenan Castle fort

3.6km away

Camp Castle broch

14.1km away

Drybridge cursus

15.2km away

Auld Hill fort

31.6km away

Auchrannie souterrain

35.9km away

Gowkstone standing stone

37.5km away

Gleniffer Braes standing stones

40.0km away

Garphar souterrain

45.1km away

The Doon fort

45.7km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Auld Tower

Trusty's Hill Class I rock carving

70.2km away

Eggerness Class I rock carving

75.9km away

Dunadd Class I rock carving

87.7km away

Old Kilmadock 2 Class I symbol stone

88.7km away

Old Kilmadock 1 Class II symbol stone

88.7km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

90.6km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

105.1km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

105.6km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

105.6km away
more Pictish stones....

Pictish sites near Auld Tower

Whitecleugh silver chain

47.2km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

73.9km away

Borland silver chain

76.3km away

Whitlaw silver chain

118.9km away

Haddington silver chain

128.8km away

Traprain Law silver chain

135.7km away

Norrie's Law hoard

137.6km away

Hoardweel silver chain

150.2km away

Torvean silver chain

223.7km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Auld Tower

Mercure Ayr Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantAyr
0.2km away
Ayrshire and Galloway Hotel
hotelAyr
0.4km away
The Ivy Rooms
hotelAyr
0.4km away
The Elms Court Hotel
hotelAyr
0.4km away
Swallow Station Hotel, Ayr
hotelAyr
0.4km away
The Richmond Guest House, Ayr
hotelAyr
0.6km away
Belmont Guest House
hotelAyr
0.6km away
The Dunn Thing
bed and breakfastAyr
0.6km away
Canter Holm Guest House
hotelAyr
0.6km away
Fairfield House Hotel
hotelAyr
0.7km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Auld Tower

Mercure Ayr Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantAyr
0.2km away
Premier Inn Ayr A77 / Racecourse
hotel, restaurantAyr
3.2km away
Premier Inn Ayr / Prestwick Airport
hotel, restaurantAyr
7.1km away
Adamton House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barPrestwick
7.2km away
The Marine Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barTroon
7.9km away
Premier Inn Kilmarnock
hotel, restaurantKilmarnock
16.9km away
Turnberry Resort
hotel, restaurant, barTurnberry
20.7km away
Wee Café, Craufurdland
caféKilmarnock
23.0km away
Bowfield Hotel & Country Club
hotel, restaurant, barHowwood
37.7km away
Best Western Eglinton Arms Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEaglesham
38.3km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 18th of May 2012 at 6:14 pm. Updated on the 9th of August 2013 at 11:20 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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